Terminally ill Ionia boy named honorary deputy sheriff

Friday

“It kind of takes his mind off it and allows him to be a kid. It’s just a small thing we can do.”

IONIA — Within minutes of walking into the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday morning, Peyton Dennis radioed the county's central dispatch.

“Central 345,” Peyton said. “I’m in service.”

“I’ll show you in service at 9:06,” the dispatcher responded.

Peyton, 4, of Ionia, became an honorary deputy sheriff of Ionia County on March 14. He raised his right hand and was sworn in by Ionia County Sheriff Charlie Noll at the sheriff’s office, 133 E. Adams St., in Ionia.

Peyton was recently diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma — a tumor is located in the middle of his brain stem. It is a terminal diagnosis.

Noll said his victim advocate coordinator Denise Deschaine reached out to Peyton’s family after learning the boy had interest in becoming an honorary deputy. Peyton has an interest in law enforcement.

“This is just one way we can shed a little light with all the tough things going on in his life,” Noll said. “It kind of takes his mind off it and allows him to be a kid. It’s just a small thing we can do.”

As part of his first task as a deputy, 4-year-old Peyton checked into service with Ionia County Central Dispatch. Peyton received several gifts, including a deputy sheriff badge, an arm patch, a challenge coin and a card signed by the sheriff’s office.

Deputies at the sheriff’s office Thursday morning introduced themselves to Peyton. They then posed for a group photo with Peyton and his family.

Deputies then showed Peyton different equipment — he tried on a bullet-proof vest. He sat inside a police car and toured the offices of the building.

Peyton was able to sit in Noll’s office chair and picked out a doughnut to take home with him before he left.

Several agencies will be on hand for the “Pancakes for Peyton” event from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Ionia Applebee’s, 3039 Commerce Lane. After that, Peyton is visiting the Michigan State Police Training Academy with the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office also attending, Noll said.

The sheriff said his department will be participating in Peyton’s fifth birthday celebration April 6 at the Lyons-Muir Lions Club in Muir.

“With him being a local kid in our community, we wanted to give back,” Noll said.

For Thursday’s swearing-in, Noll asked deputies who were working and jail staff if they wanted to participate.

“I think it was important for him to see other people," Noll said. "That’s kind of what he wanted was to meet police officers. That’s what he got to do today.”

Noll said he hopes Peyton’s treatments benefit him. He hopes Thursday’s experience was fun for Peyton and his family.

“This is just one of the ways we can give back and shine a little positive light on a little boy’s life,” he said.

The Ionia County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 157 also donated a $300 gas card to Peyton’s family for their travels to and from treatment, said president and Ionia County Undersheriff Andrew Bucholtz.